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Chapter 3
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Fever Pitch, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Obsession vs. Fandom
Sports, Identity, and Community
Escapism
Sports and Masculinity
Summary
Analysis
Nick is thrilled when his father takes him to Wembley to see England play Scotland—it’s an important game, and England wins. Nick feels relieved and redeemed, since the last game he saw at Wembley was Arsenal’s devastating loss to Swindon. At the same time, he doesn’t feel a major connection to the England team. Nick doesn’t feel much of a connection to his country at all, and he wonders if football fans in other countries feel the same way. In any case, Nick finds the game is more fun to watch than Arsenal games since he’s not as invested in the outcome.
Perhaps Nick is drawn to Arsenal more than his national team because being an Arsenal fan gives him a unique identity among other English people. That is, his goal is establishing himself as a unique person, not necessarily developing community and a shared identity.
Themes
